ROTATION

Eleven pitchers started at least once for the Dodgers last season and the combined effort produced a National League-low 3.19 ERA. Nine of those starters are back (including reliever Scott Alexander). And the number doesn’t even include Julio Urias, who might have been the most impressive performer of the lot during spring training. Then there are Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, top prospects who were unruffled facing major-league hitters in spring games. It is depth that could be the envy of every other major-league team. And it is needed. Clayton Kershaw’s spring was interrupted by shoulder discomfort and Walker Buehler was also “slow-played” when he “didn’t quite feel right” after early throwing sessions. Rich Hill has a knee injury. Hill and Kershaw will start the season on the injured list and Buehler could be compromised – in length or sharpness – after making just two preseason starts. Opening Day starter Hyun-Jin Ryu was terrific in 15 starts last season (a 1.97 ERA) but has pitched more than that just once since 2014. The Dodgers believe they can absorb any issues with depth. And they’re probably right.

BULLPEN

The Dodgers’ philosophy of bullpen-building under Andrew Friedman has been to collect as many potential relievers with “compelling upside stories” as possible and then wait for one or two or more to emerge from the pack – as Brandon Morrow did in 2017. That approach produced inconsistent results all year long last season – and never uncovered an heir to Morrow. The approach changed this winter and the Dodgers signed Joe Kelly to a three-year, $25 million contract after watching him shut them down in the World Series. Kelly joins Pedro Baez (he held batters to a .169 average over his final 24 appearances last year) as the key pieces in the bridge to slimmed-down and refocused closer Kenley Jansen. Tony Cingrani’s recurring shoulder problems leave a question mark on the left-handed side of the bullpen.

INFIELD

The best player the Dodgers added to their roster this spring is a familiar one – Corey Seager. The shortstop must have had the smoothest recovery in the history of Tommy John surgeries and emerged from spring training looking fully recovered from the hip and elbow surgeries that occupied his 2018. Third baseman Justin Turner also emerged from spring training intact after suffering a late-spring broken wrist a year ago. Those two things alone might be the most important difference as the season opens. On the right side, ‘super-utility’ player Kiké Hernandez could find himself a home at second base. At first base, Max Muncy was a revelation last season (35 home runs, .973 OPS). Repeating that could be a real challenge. If the dropoff is too severe, it could be costly for the Dodgers, forcing them to rethink the move of Cody Bellinger to the outfield.

OUTFIELD

Gone from the picture this year are Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, traded to the Cincinnati Reds over the winter. They take with them a good chunk of the 81 home runs subtracted from the Dodgers’ 2018 total (along with Yasmani Grandal and the partial seasons of Manny Machado and Brian Dozier). What the Dodgers hope to substitute in their place is a more consistent offense with A.J. Pollock added to the lineup and Bellinger (now a right fielder) wiser for his experience as a platoon player in the second half of last season. Alex Verdugo has been added to the mix after an extended apprenticeship in Triple-A. Where his playing time comes from is hard to envision at this point with fellow left-handed bat Joc Pederson locked down in left field.

CATCHING

After two consecutive collapses in the crucible of postseason play, the relationship between the Dodgers and Grandal had soured and he left as a free agent, signing with the Milwaukee Brewers. For all his flaws – questionable consistency defensively and a real boom-or-bust nature offensively – Grandal gave the Dodgers more offense from the catcher’s spot than almost any other team got. Though both represent defensive upgrades, Austin Barnes and Russell Martin will not be able to match Grandal’s offense.

BENCH

The Dodgers ended last season with ‘line changes’ – multiple substitutions vs. right- or left-handed pitching. They won’t be as bifurcated this season. But the bench will include right-handed hitters David Freese and Chris Taylor when a right-handed pitcher starts against the Dodgers, Pederson and Alex Verdugo. The flexibility of multiple multi-position players remains a staple of roster-building under Andrew Friedman, particularly with a 13-man pitching staff standard these days.

MANAGER

The Dodgers have won 287 games in Dave Roberts’ first three seasons as manager, continued their run as division champs and reached back-to-back World Series. And yet, he might be one of the most criticized managers in the majors. Power in baseball has shifted from the dugout to the front office with that dynamic no more powerful than in Los Angeles. Roberts feels the brunt of fan dissatisfaction with (or misunderstanding of) that shift. And yet his unflagging energy, upbeat attitude and willingness to embrace (and not be overwhelmed by) the input of the Dodgers’ push-the-envelope analytics department make him very much the model of a 21st-century manager.

Bill Plunkett has covered everything from rodeo to Super Bowls to boxing (yeah, I was there the night Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear off) during a career that started far too long ago to mention and eventually brought him to the OC some time last century (1999 actually). He has been covering Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register since 2003, spending time on both the Angels and Dodgers beats.

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